New York, NY – Nyack College/Alliance Theological Seminary, one of the most diverse Christian colleges in the nation announced it will move from its current Lower Manhattan location on Broadway to Battery Park, more than doubling its space to accommodate a growing student population.

The college has signed a lease with options that extend to 2042, at 2 Washington Street in Lower Manhattan’s Battery Park and will take occupancy by the fall 2013 semester. A partial move of some graduate programs has already taken place and the full transition will continue through next summer.

"Nyack's roots as a leader in Christian higher education were planted in New York City more than 130 years ago. Moving to the financial hub of this gateway city to the world will help us reach our goal of becoming a world class institution of higher education,” said Dr. Michael Scales, president of Nyack College. “We are committed to providing our growing student population with the best learning environment possible, which includes access to career opportunities in the heart of New York City.”

At 2 Washington Street, the college will occupy 166,385 square feet in a modern structure on the Manhattan skyline, neighboring Wall Street, Trinity Church, New York Harbor and the 9/11 Memorial.

“New York City has more higher education students than Boston has people, and our strong network of colleges is one of the City’s greatest assets,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. “Nyack College’s expansion plans affirm the attractiveness of New York City’s higher education institutions and the revitalization and diversification of Lower Manhattan. For more than a century, Nyack graduates have made tremendous contributions to our City, and we look forward to that continuing in their new home for years to come."

Nyack’s current campus in Manhattan serves 1,400 undergraduate and graduate students with 34 classrooms and teaching labs. The new location will expand capacity to 60 classrooms and labs.

“Nyack is a culturally and ethnically diverse institution. Our students come from 66 countries around the globe,” added President Scales. “Our goal is to educate the whole student—academically, spiritually, and emotionally—and prepare them for a broad spectrum of careers that will have a positive impact on the world.”

Nyack’s 125-acre residential campus is located in Nyack, NY overlooking the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge. However, it has a storied history in Manhattan. Nyack was founded in New York City in 1882 with just a few dozen students. It has occupied several Manhattan locations.

The most popular areas of study in the current 50+ program catalog include business, psychology, counseling, education, biblical studies, music, and social work. Some of the newest degree programs include biology, nursing, and criminal justice. One third of Nyack students are enrolled in its prestigious masters and doctoral programs.

Nyack College has twice (2011 and 2012) made the prestigious list of The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges To Work For” based on a survey of its faculty and staff, which also represents a unique diversity.

Senior Vice President Gerry Miovski and Senior Vice President Christopher Mansfield, the real estate team from CBRE Group, Inc., worked with Nyack College over several years to identify this new location. Andrea Gendel, of Pryor Cashman’s Real Estate Group, represented the College for this transaction. Architects Lori Kupfer and Vincent Martineau have already completed a state of the art educational design for the facility.

ABOUT NYACKNyack College was founded in 1882 by Dr. Albert Benjamin Simpson and today serves more than 3,400 students in its undergraduate and graduate degree programs. In addition to its residential campus in Nyack, NY and a campus in New York City, a branch of its seminary is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Nyack College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York.